BELGRADE- The Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija (KiM) released on Tuesday, to mark the 15th anniversary of the adoption of Resolution 1244, that Serbia remains committed to the principles of international law and the UN and that it will continue to build the path with the aim of ensuring that the tragic consequences of the war do not remain a burden on the coming generations, whić will be aćieved through a dialogue with interim self-government institutions in KiM and partners in the international community.

Through a responsible attitude and solidarity with our compatriots in KiM, Serbia will demonstrate its responsibility towards itself and its future, the Office stated in the release.

Since June 1999, over 242,000 Serbs, Goranis, Roma, Turks, Egyptians, Ashkalis and other ethnicities were banished and sought refuge from KiM, and 312 out of 437 settlements where Serbs lived until 1999 were completely ethnically cleansed, states the release.

This period was marked by maš sufferings and banishment of Serbs and other non-Albanian population. Over 7,200 ethnically motivated attacks were registered and over 1,100 Serbs and citizens of other ethnicities were murdered, while 1,000 more were gravely wounded and 841 Serbs were kidnapped.

The Office for KiM recalled that with the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1244, the international community took over the responsibility to protect human rights and set up rule of law on the entire territory of KiM.

A decade and a half later, it is clear that the need for international involvement in the province has not ceased to exist, the release states.